November Re-training

Some call November the off-season. Some might think after 26 days of moving time over the summer, we’d be looking for some significant down time.

Life is too short for an off-season. For me, November has thus far been for re-training.

Re-training, as in re-learning, as in reminding yourself how to do something you once could.

I can’t get that move Chad is attempting above, though I have done it before.

I can ride that one, and successfully escape the sea monster’s tentacles.

That one’s a classic and now goes for me.

Yup, that’n too. It’s coming back.

New one. Chad’s not making it look good here, but I made it look worse by not even attempting.

This was a semi-redemption techy taco ride. Compared to the first, with horrible trail conditions and even worse confidence, almost anything could be considered redemptive.

No redemption needed here. Tucson sunsets are the best.

We are so lucky to have trails out the door. When the cloud ceilings look good for pyrotechnics, it’s time to head out for a quick run!

Halloween Night ride! We ventured into the spooky woods south of Rosemont Junction on the AZT.

I know my body well enough to know I had no business racing the AES Kentucky Camp event. That event is never well timed for me, and I’m fine with it. Instead we did the night ride, camped and hung out, then ran the opposite direction with Kendall and Pocket while everyone rode.

Stickers in the shoes notwithstanding, it was a fabulous run and beautiful day for it.

We had the brilliant idea to run up a mountain the next day. I believe the quote was, “I ain’t afraid of no ghost.”

We took the less optimal but more interesting choice at the beginning of Kings Canyon – sand and pour-offs!

This might be the current winner in the baby saguaro contest. Can you find a younger one?

This ridgeline is the best part of the run. It’s an incredible trail, and one closed to bikes!

7 miles with 2000′ of elevation gain, we were pretty happy with how we handled back-to-back runs. We can actually run trails now!

The next taco ride was the following day, and my energy level was so low I really had no business being there.

The ride had an odd vibe to it, serving to even further turn me off to even attempting redemption. I couldn’t, and wouldn’t ride anything. It was still a beautiful day to be out on the rocks, and I appreciated it for that, but the usual zeal just wasn’t there. Normally with this company and day, I could use it to really push some limits, and I needed a little help with the push, but this day just ended up being frustrating more than anything.

Ez got a new carbon Salsa Spearfish to replace her old one, which has seen many a mile and many a harsh condition. It was ridden hard and put away wet, as the saying goes, but served well.

We were obliged to chase the evening light.

I was obliged to chase the flashy orange blur through the desert.

Same view, different bike.

The first full suspension fat bike, done extremely and surprisingly well by Salsa. It rides like a mountain bike — a big and capable one.

I don’t have enough stans in my tires, nor can I bunny hop that far

The effects of our micro running binge weren’t felt for several days. Mostly our feet were hammered, and I ended up taking almost an entire week off “the feet.”

Said feet got itchy and were longing for a big day out. Luckily we have a lovely big loop available right out the door, and though it was perhaps a little warm for it, I set off late in the morning.

Tech confidence still low, but there are ways to avoid the hard stuff while staying on dirt. Except when I got to Brown Mountain, I figured, why not?

I *loved* the “hike-a-bike” ascent from the south side, pulling off a shocking number of ledgy moves I had no right to even attempt. I paid the price, getting dizzy and roasting myself in the sun. Hard efforts are still not really agreeing with me.

I took the liberty to do some exploring on the town side of Picture Rocks, attempting to find lower traffic alternates.

I’m not sure I found long term viable routes, but I did find some cool stuff, like this rock art.

And this impressive crested saguaro. It was a good ride. Somehow I’d managed to stretch a 50 mile ride into an all day excursion. I suppose the nap at the visitor’s center might have been part of it…

Mt Lemmon eventually gets cold, and maybe even snowy. Now is the time to grab the upper chunk while you can still get it.

I figured the best way to re-train my brain for steepness, chunk and height of drops is…. practice, of course! What better way to get in a ridiculous amount of practice than on a Lemmon Drop.

Ez wanted to pedal up the Catalina Highway and avoid rocks and trail BS. I wanted to ride down Lemmon and find as many rocks as possible. We were able to strike a nice little deal wherein I drove to the top and she was so kind as to pedal up and fetch the vehicle.

I started not at the top, but with secret/1918 in order to have some uphill to warm up on, and also not miss any fall color. The leaves are all on the ground, sadly, but the organic smell of fall was quite nice.

It says AZ Trail Wilderness bypass, so I suppose I’m obliged to include all this in the AZTR route, right? (Oof)

Despite being in solo mode and despite lacking familiarity, I rode really well. Might have ridden better than last April. The trails are more resilient to big rains than some of the lower stuff, and actually in as good of shape overall as I’ve ever seen them. High time to get up there!

I started to get tired midway down Bugs. The goal had been accomplished. I could feel some major re-wiring of neural pathways taking hold.

Luckily Bugs and Prison are smooth and easy compared to the rest, and a joy to ride even roasted. I turned for the highway and skipped the beating of Molino/Millie, pedaling to meet Ez at Le Buzz.

Re-training of a different sort was next up, as we headed to the Picketpost Trailhead the same weekend as the Punisher AES Event. Friday’s goal was to scramble to the top of Picketpost itself, something that looked pretty dubious as we stood in the parking lot trying to decipher the route.

Ez is not a fan of heights (as she details on her blog), so we weren’t quite sure what to expect and were ready to turn around if needed.

Several times on the way up she stopped and declared she “didn’t like it.” I usually went to scout ahead, just in case it was the last difficult spot. By the time I got back, she was past it.

Fears dealt with and conquered. Well done, Ez!

I have to admit it was a little dicier than I was expecting. No one section was harder than I expected, but it was pretty continuously a little sketchy for most of the climb.

The way down was considerably easier, without the uncertainty of the option to turn around.

Really, we went up there?

My confidence also increased from all the practice. I relearned breaking points of traction on rock and loose gravel. I re-trained my mind for what is steep, safe, and doable. These are again things I’ve acquired in scrambles past, but are sorely out of practice in.

The sunset was classic AZ. We talked with nutcase Schilling on the eve of his 20+ hour Pulverizer ride, and met others showing up to take on Montana Mtn and Picketpost. I had planned to ride at least Montana Mountain, but my thumb had other ideas.

I’d put my hand down on a bee while climbing slickrock. Can’t blame it for stinging me. I knew the swelling likely wouldn’t affect my ability to keep climbing and hold onto rock, but holding onto a handlebar the next day was firmly out.

So instead we ran seven or so miles looping the old and new AZT out of the trailhead. Not a bad consolation at all. Various things are trying to keep me from riding too much, and I think that’s a good thing, especially when I’m making progress re-training and re-learning all the while.

I’m pretty excited to see where running leads us, as well as looking forward to a bunch of good desert rides this winter.